General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What the hell, DU? [View all]woo me with science
(32,139 posts)I have been closely watching rec counts for blatantly freeper-ish posts for some time now. In the past, they would get single-digit count recs at most. Over time, that number, and the influx of low count posters spouting the talking points, has slowly climbed, much too steadily for it to be accidental. Now a post like that will get recs from 30 to 60.
States that build surveillance infrastructures also build propaganda infrastructures. These people have deep, deep pockets. They could not take over message boards completely on Day One and have everyone believe that membership opinion changed overnight to a board of corporate toadies. But we can expect the level of infiltration by shills and socks to continue to increase steadily and gradually over time.
It is worth noting that the Smith-Mundt Act revision, which ends the prohibition on the government's propagandizing its own people, takes effect this summer or fall.